Motor-vehicle.



PATENTED JUNE 4 T. J. THORP.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 190e.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 855,597. vEATEEETH) JUNE 5, 1907;

T. J. TEoEEg MoToE VEHICLE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAYll, 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2` IIllllllllgl lp i E. uml m IIIHIIIIIIIi llllllllllllliilllllf! llllill v www PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

T. J. THORP.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLmATIoN FILED MAY 11,1906.

6 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

No. 855,597. PATENTED JUNE 4,1907.

T. J. THORP.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 11,1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ad a/ e SHEETS-SHEET 5.

PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

VII

T. J. THORP.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY11, 190e.

'zmms: N. om WW T. J. THORP.

MOTOR VEHIGLE.

APPLIOA'IION FILED MAYll, 1906.

PATENTED JUNE 4, 11907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET- 6.

f am] or UNrrrn sfrafrns PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. THORP, OF CORVALLIS, OREGON, ASSIGN OR TO T. J; THORP MFG COMPANY, OF OORVALLIS, OREGON, A CORPORATION OF OREGON.

I moron-VEHICLE.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 190'?.

c Application filed May 11,1906. Serial No. 316,311.

To LZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. THORP, a citizen of the Unitedv States, residing at Corvallis, in the county of Benton and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement. in Motor-Vehicles, -ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly-to selfprcpelled vehicles for truck purposes and my primary object is to provide a strong and thoroughly reliable construction for this class or vehicles.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a plan view of my im-A proved self-propelled truck; Fig. 2, a side elevational View of the same; Fig. 3, a rear elevational view of the same; Fig. 4, a broken section taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 3, and showing a detail of an axle-bracket e'mployed; Fig. 5, a sectiontaken as indicated at line 5 of Figl; Fig, 6, a section taken as indicated at line 6 ofFig. 5; Fig. 7, a section taken as indicated. at line 7 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8, a section taken as indicated atline 8 of Fig. 3, and showing a detail of the connections between the bottom of the truck-body and the circle of the main frame which is supported on the turntable carried by 'the front Wheels; Fig. 9, a detailed sectional View showing the connection between the front portion of the main frame and the wheelframe, or turn-table, mounted on'the front wheels ofthe machine Fig. I0, a sectional view taken as indicated at line I() of Fig. 2, and showing details of the steering mechanism and of a hoisting drum; Fig. 11, a section taken as indicated at line 11 of Fig. l g and Fig. 12, a plan view showing a slight modication of the machine.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive, A represents the main frame of the machine; B, the rear axle supported on Wheels B1; O, a turn-table, or front wheel frame, supported on an axle C1 upon which are journaled front wheels. G2; D, an engine mounted on the wheel-frame C and having a shaft D1 connected by a sprocket-chain D2 to a transverse shaft D3 supported on the Wheel-frame' C; E, avertical shaft journaled in a head E1 and connected by bevel gears with the shaft D3, said shaft E being in alinement/With the vertical axis of the Wheel-frame O; E2, a transverse shaft geared to theA shaft E and' journaled on a standard carried by the front end of the main-frame E3, a sprocket-Wheel mounted on the shaft E2 and serving to' actuate a sprocketchain E4; E5, a sprocket'- Wheelmounted on the shaft E2 and serving to "actuate a sprocket-chain E6; F, a trans,- verse shaft supported by suitable hangers beneath the main frame and actuated by the sprocket-chain E6; F1, sprocket-chains actuated., by the shaft F andl geared to sprocket Wheels F2 connected with the rear Wheels B1 1 of the machine; G, a transverse shaft mounted in. suitable standards on the main frame and equipped with a sleeve G1 having coni nected therewith a sprocket-wheel G2 actuated by the chain E4; G3, a clutch `serving to connect the sleeve Gl with the shaft G G4, Y

a hoisting drum secured on the shaft G H,

steering mechanism having as a part thereof a shaft H1 connected by a sprocket-chain H2 with the sleeve G1; and I, brake-mechanism connected with the main frame and serving to act upon the rear wheels.

The frame A com prises an upper member a formed with a partly circular portion a1 at its front end; an intermediate frame-member a? formed with a partly circular portion a3 at its front end; a =bottom a4 Whose rear end is connected by members a5 with the rear ends of the members c, a2, and Whose front end is `connected by a member a6 With the member a2; members a7 connecting the members a, a2 at their front' portions; a standard a8 supported on the circle al of the member a, as shown in Figs. l and 7, said standard serving to support the shaft EZ; a circular member, or bracket, a supported on the standard as, Within Which member the member E1 is mounted to turn, the member E1 being equipped with rollers al engaging the bracket a",- a pair o f transverseframe members a, a connecting the members of the frame part a., as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and standards a supported on the members a, a.12 and serving to support theshaft G and steering mechanism H, as shown i'nQFig. 10. The

'ICO

frame-member a comprises an angle-bar bent intermediately to form the circle al and having its ends extending rearwardlyl to form4 l verse members a2 between Which the circleside members. The member a comprises an angle-bar simil-arly bent to form the circle a3 land rearwardly extending side members. The-bottom a* comprises channel-bars xa passing over the depressed intermediate portion of the rear axle and secured thereto by clips 0.15, as Vshown in detail in Figs.v 5 and';

and a sheet-metal bottom plate a. resting upon and riveted to thel channel-bars, as shown in Figs. 1 and i8., The' front portion, W ich is made concave at its ont edge, as indicated at als in Fig. 8, -to 'com-z,

lete the circle a3. The lateral edges l'of the ange a are joined by bars al to the inturned flanges of the side members Vof the frame .part a2. 'The standard as has its 'eizids iirmly bolted to' the circle a1 of the upper frame member lof* and is provided with trans- The rear laxle B .is formed with indles t,

vertical ortions 111 and an vinter-Ine iateortion bzconnecting the lower ends of the verti cal portions t1. rlhus, the intermediane.v or-. tion of the :axle is .depressed below the p ane of the spindles. The axle is connectedwith the frame a2 by axle-brackets b2, each of. Which has :a vertical channel b3 receiving the'- or-tion b1 of the axle and `a penora- I vertical tion b4 t ough\ which the spindle projects. The vertical ortion of the :axle is secured Within said c annel by belts b5. The axlebracket has a horizontal upper portion o :affording a bearing for the lcorresponding part of the frame member f0.2., said :horizontal .part having a vertical flange-b? 'which .is bolted to the vertical flange of the member a2.. This` Will be clearly understood .by reference to ed standards c2 which support cross-rods c3.

connected by brackets c* in 'which the shaft D3"is journaled. The head E1 is firmly supported on the Vstandard lc2 through the medium of the cross-rods, or shafts, c3.

The motor D lmay be of any .ap roved construction. The sprocket-chain D2 connects With a sprocket-Wheel d loosely mounted on the shaft D3 and controlled by la clutch d1.

The shaft d3 is also Vequiped with loosely.

mounted sprocket-wheels controlled by ends of' the channel-baren)L4 'are secured to the memrejecting iian-ge'alat' its u per.

d* vwith the` front Wheels C? o The details ofthe clutches-(Z3 tant, but it may be mentioned similar te the clutches shownin Fig. L11 Y.

The vertical shaft E is connected with the.` horizontal shaft Dl by bevel gears e, and With the horizontal shaft E24 by bevel gears e1. The sprocket-Wheels E3, E5 are controlled by clutches 62,133, as shown in detail in Fig. 11. vThe details of the clutches Will Withoutl further description. It will be understood that the rotation of the shaft F, and through the medium thereof the driving of the rear Wheels of the machine.7 is controlled by the clutch e3.

the machine.

are 'unimporf The clutch Gr3 on the shaft G is an ordinary jaw-clutch, .and :may beactuated by any sui-table means that they are clutches d3 and connectedby s rocket-chains ig be understood 7 5.

The actuation of the sleeve 8o G1 through the medium of the sprocket-chain Ed4 is controlled by the clutch e2.

(not shown)7 when it is desired to, employ the 8 5 drum G4.

' r:lhe steering mechanism H comprises the shaft :H1 Awhich is continuously operated through the medium of the sprocket-chain H2; a pair ofshiftab'le friction disks 7L con. 9onected With lsleeves h1 mounted on the shaft H1, said sleeves having screw connection with the standard u, .as shown'in F ig. 10; a vertical steering shaft h2 equipped at its upper end with .ay-friction disk it? located 'Within the disks h, and e uipped at its lower end with a `s rocketsvvhegl 172.4; :a sheave h5 fixed on the s aft h2 .and connected by a cable h With a pairof slides k7; a pair of hand-Wheelsh8 having stems h" having threaded connection with 'the slides hl; a pair `0i" sprocket-chains hw.' connect-ing the stems hg With .the sleeves hl of the lfriction disks 71.; and .a'sprocket-,chain h *connecting the s rocket-Wheel It, with' a large sprocket-Wheel 12 Which is iirily connected with the front Wheel-frame C through the medium Yof the hracketsc, as shown in IEig. 9.

The construction of the brake Amechanism l Ais not I'claimed in the present application. It is -suicient to say that itcomprises apair ci' slides fi carrying .the brake'shoes i2; threaded stemst3 seryingto .actuate the slides t; .a pair oi hand-Wheels d'1,"4 and a sprocketchain t5 connecting the hand-Wheels with the screws i3 which vserve to .actuate the slides carrying the brake-shoes. The construction provides for the simultaneous actuation of the brake-shoes .from either side of the machine.

The operation of the machine will be readil-y understood. Power is communicated from the engine through the medium of the `sprocket-chain D2 to the sprocket-Wheel d on the shaft D3, and through the medium of the clutch d1 the shaftl D3 may be actuated at Will. 1 25 rllhrough Vthe medium of the clutches d3, either or both of the front Wheels of the machine may be actuated at Will. Power is IOC' IIO

transmitted from Vthe horizontal shaft D3 through the vertical shaft E to the horizontal shaft E2. By means of the clutches e?, e3

power may be transmitted at will through the chain E* to the sleeve AGr1 and through the chain E? to the rear Wheels of the machine. From the sleeve G1 the shaft H1v ofthe steering mechanism is continuously actuated, and, at will, either ofthe slides h" may be actuated throu h the medium of a hand-Wheel he to release t e steering shaftltl and cause said shaft to be rotated through the medium of one of the friction disks h, according to the direction in Which it is de 'red to steer the machine. Whe n the slideh7 are in the position shown in Fig.. 10, both friction disksh are out of enga ement with the disk h3, and

the steering sha t h2 is firmly gripped by the cable` h5. In such condition, the machine will follow a straight course, 'The front Wheels of the machine may be thrown into gear through the medium of vthe clutches e3; or, in emergency, only one of the front Wheels may be thrown into gear to aid the machine in turning sharply about.

The modified is similar to the construction alread de-A scribed, except that the shaft F and-t e attendant means for connecting the rear Wheels of the machine With the shaft E2 are omitted, the front wheels of the machine being Wholl depended upon for traction purposes. Suc

a cpnstruction is suitable for the lighter class of Work. inasmuch-as the construction does riot differ from the construction above described, the principal partsrshown. in Fig. 12

" are -letteredto correspond with the same parts shown in the other figures. VThe construction has been described in detail for clcarness of understanding, and no prndue limit ation should be understood'there- W'hat I regard-as` new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a front Wheel, a front Wheel-frame supported thereon, a main frame having its front end swiveled on saidY Wheel-frame, Wheelssupporting the rear end of the inain frame, 'a motor mounted on said Wheel-frame, a vertical shaft eo-axial with the axis of said Wheel-frame and geared to said motor, and steering mechanism mounted on the main frame and geared to said vertical shaft. I

2. The combination of a front. Wheel, a front Wheel-framesupported thereon, a main frame having its front end swiveled on said Wheel-frame,'Wheels supporting therear end of the main frame, a motor mounted on said Wheel-frame, a vertical shaft co-axial with the axisof said wheel-frame and geared to said motor, and means connecting said vertical shaft with one of said last-named wheels.

3. The combination of a front Wheel, a

construction shown in Fig. 12

front Wheel-frame supported thereon, a main frame having its front end swiveled on said wheeL-frame, Wheels supporting therear end -of the main frame, a motor mounted on said Wheel-fra e, a vertical shaft co-axial With the axis o said Wheel-frame and geared to said motor, steering mechanism mountedv on the main frame, and'means gearing saidvvertical shaft to saidste'ering mechanism andte one of said last-named Wheels.

4. The combination of a front Wheel, a front Wheel-frame, a main frame having its front end swiveled\ on said Wheel-frame, Wheels supporting the rear end ofthe .mainframe, a motor mounted on said Wheel-frame,

' a horizontal shaft supported on the Wheelframe and oreared to said motor, a vertical 'shaft co-axlalwith'the axis of said Wheelframe and geared to said horizontal shaft, .a shaftjournaled on the front end of the mainframe and geared to said vertical shaft, and

means for transmitting power from said lastnamed shaft to mechanlsm en the mam frame lof the machine.

5. The combination of a front Wheel, a Y

front Wheel-frame, a main frame having its front end swiveled on saidv Wheel -frame,` Wheels supporting the rear-end of the main i' frame, a vertical shaft co-axial with the axis of lIOC) motor mounted on said Wheel-frame, a verti-l l cal shaft coaxial With the axis of said Wheelframe and geared to said motor, a steering shaft mounted on the main frame and geared lto said vertical shaft, and connectinlr means between said. steering shaft andsaidl` Wheelframe, for the purpose set forth.

- 7. The combination of a front Wheel, a

front Wheel-frame, a main frame'havihg its Ofront end swiveled on. said Wheel-frame, a

motor mounted 'on s aid Wheel-frame, a vertical shaft cio-axial With the axis of said Wheelframe` and geared to said motor, means for transmitting motion from the motor to said front Wheel, a steering shaft mounted on the main frame in the rear of said' Wheel frame and geared to said vertical shaft, an'lmeans connecting said steering shaft with sai Wheelframe.

8. The combination of a pair of front Wheels, a' front Wheelframe, a main frame having its front end swivel-d on said wheelframe, a motor mounted on said Wheel-frame, a vertical shaft in alinement with the-axis of said Wheel-frame and geared to said motor,

means for transmitting motion at will from said motor to said front wheels, a steering shaft mounted on kthe main frame and connected with said wheelframe, and means forA municating motion from said vertical shaft,

to said steering mechanism, and a hoisting drum actuated from said vertical shaft.

10. rl"he combination of afront wheel, a wheel-frame, a main frame having its front end swiveled on Said wheel-frame, a motor mounted on said Wheel-frame, a vertical shaft in alinement with the. axis of said wheel-frame and geared to said' motor, a drum mounted on the main frame, and

means for transmitting motion at will fromwheel-frame, a motor mounted on said Wheelframe, a main frame having its vfront end swiveled on said wheel-frame, a shaft in verticalv alinement with the axis of said wheelframe and eared to said motor, a shaft supported on t e main frame and equipped with a drum, a-sleeve journaled. on said shaft and geared to said vertical shaft, steering mechanism connected with said Wheel-frame, and means for communicating motion from said sleeve to said steering mechanism.

I 12. The combination of a pair of front wheels, a wheel-frame mounted thereon, a main frame having its front end swiveled on said wheel-frame, rear wheels for the main frame,i a motor mounted on the wheel frame, a vertical shaft co-axial with the axis of said wheel-frame and geared to said motor,

`a transverse shaft mounted on the front end of the main frame and geared to said vertical shaft, a pair of sprocket-chains actuated by said transverse shaft, steering mechanism mounted on the main frame and actuated by one of said sprocket-chains and connected with said wheehframe, and means for transmitting motion from the other of said sprocket-chains vto the rear wheels of the machine.

13. 'T he combination of a front wheel, a wheel-frame supported.. thereon, a main frame having its front end swiveled on said wheel-frame, a motor mounted on said wheel-frame, a verticalshaft geared to said motor, and 'steering mechanism comprising a horizontal shaft actuated from said vertical shaft and equipped with a pair of friction disks, a vertical shaft .geared to said Wheelframe and equipped with a friction disk, and means for shifting said first-named disks. 4

14. The combination of a front wheel, a wheel-frame supported thereon, a main frame having its front end swiveled on said wheel-frame, a motor mounted on said wheelframe, a vertical shaft geared to said motor, and steering mechanism comprising a hori zontal shaft geared to said vertical shaft and equipped with a pair of shiftable friction disks, a steering shaft geared to said wheelfraine and equipped with a friction disk located between said first-named disks, a pair of slides, gripping cable for s aid steering shaft connected with, said slides, and means for actuating said slides and *shiftingV said first-named friction disks.l

15. The combination of a front wheel, a.

of rear wheels, a standard supported on the wheel-frame, a standard supported on lthe, front end of the main frame, anti-friction bearings between said standards, a motor mounted. on the wheel-frame, a vertical shaft journaled in the standard carried by the wheel-frame and geared to the motor, `a transverse shaftrjournaled in the standard carried by the front end of the main frame and geared to said vertical shaft, and means for transmitting motion from said lastnamed shaft.

16. The combination of a front wheel, a wheel-frame, a rear axle having its bodyportion depressed beneath the plane of its,

spindles, and a main frame comprising a pair 'of members having partly circular front-portions, the lower one of said membersv being swiveled on said wheel-frame, and a bottom comprising bars supported on said axle, and a connecting member joining the front ends of said bars to the lower one of said firstnarned members, said connecting member lOO serving to complete the circle of the member with which it connects.

1 7. A frame for the purpose set forth, comprising an upper member curved intermediately to form a partial circle and having rearwardly extending side members, a lower member curved intermediately to' form a partial circle and having rearwardly extending side members, a'bottom comprising bars and a-plate supported on said bars, and a IIO member connectingthe front ends of said bars-with the lower one of said first-named I members, said connecting member serving to complete the circle of the second-named member.

18. A frame for the purpose set forth, comprising an upper member curved intermediately to form a partial circle and having rearwardly extending side members, a lower member curved intermediately to forni a partial circle and having Ijear'wardly extending side members, axle-bracketsconnected with said second-named member and having vertical channels, an axle having its body- 4portion depressed beneath the plane of its spindles and vertical portions received by the channels of said brackets, and a bottom comi prising bars supported on said axle and having their front ends connected With said second-named member. o

v THOMAS J. THORP.

In presence of- A. U, THORIEN,

J. H. LANDES. 

